Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-11-05
An Address from MIR. Barbour.


To the Democratic Toters of Virginia:
Ia the closing days Of the pending canvass
in Virginia the democra ic executive COM
mittee is unwilling to conclude its lahore
without making some pu3ic statement OF
the progress of the campaign and submitting
at the same time on earnest appeal to its
political friends and associates to bring out
the full force of the party to the election
which takes, place throughout the State on
Tuesday next.
The time for argument is past and the
hour for action is at hand. The result of the
approaching election will determine wheth.
er or not the control of the Legislature of
the State is to pass from the hands of the
democratic party ard its policies be again
dominated by that faction which few years
ago exercised almost absolute sway over
tho destinies of the Commonwealth.
Intelligence received by the committee
from accredited sources of information in
every section of the State indicates with
slight exceptions, the undiminished power
of the democratic party and its undoubted
ability to elect majority of the members
of the next General Assembly. The only
apprehension which prevails arises from the
apathy which is alleged to exist in some OF
the counties and the apparent indifference
o the voters % TO going to The polls and
casting their ballots on election day.
Is there any good ground for this condl.
ton of things? Fit arise from too much
confidence in the strength of the party to
elect its candidates let it be remembered
that its strength can only be manifested by
the delivery of its ballots at the polls. The
superior activity of minority often over.
comes the negative or less positive efforts of
O majority.
And why should not the democratic party
of Virginia make every possible sttort TO
maintain lis supremacy in the government
of the State? Can the organization afford to
give up all the valuable fruits secured by
The hard earned victories in the elections OF
1SS3.'S4 'S5, and surrender Internationally
10 the tender mercy Of ita political adver-
seTes?
What this may be can be inferred from
what it has been in our past experience IN
The legislation of the State.
To allow such result to he accomplished
would violate the memories of the nass an
tueonizs the best interest of the present and
destroy the brightest hopes of our future
domestic security.
Ifany dissatisfaction he's been created oy
disseusions among ourselves, let it be subor
dinated to the higher and more important
considerations OF the public veal. Mistakes
of omission and commission have doubtless
been made by the representatives OF our
party, State and Federal, but these are in,
cident to the conduct of all human affairs,
and do not furnish proper justification for
deserving our principles, and, least OF all
for inducing co operation with that most
Objectionable of political organizations
which has its home seat in the Northern
States of he Union, is intensely sectional IN
spirit, and is led and directed by the Sher'
mans and the Forakers, et id omne genus.
The spirit of Virginia, it is to be hoped
has not yet sunk so low as to be willing to
desert tho lines of the old party founded by
her own Jefferson and join hands with re-
publicans of such radical tendencies.
What possible excuse can any right. mind
ed man of Virginia present to justify him in
taxing ground against the democratic party
and in Co operating with the extremists OF
the republican party, who now dominate,
for the most part, the political situations at
the North? The issue is simple and signiti
cant, and must be susceptible OF easy appre
citation by the intelligence Of the people.
mot only 10 the success of the democratic
party required at the approaching election
by every patriotic consideration, but 1t 10
also demanded by the obligations of Vir'
GINA to her sister democratic States of the
Union to maintain her position in the demo-
cratic column.
1t is also important that Virginia shoald
indorse the wise and patriotic course Of the
national administration and approve its gen
eral measures of public policy. This mani
festation Gun only he made By sustaining the
democratic candidates on election day.
Your political adgersatiea arc thoroughly
organized for the conflict. Il is reported
that large sums Of money have been sent to
the managers to influence public sentiment
and to corrupt electors at the polls. Be this
as it may, the occasion demands at the
hands of the democratic voters the exercise
of the utmost vigilance and the employment
of all honorable means and efforts TO elect
their candidates.
The committee trusts that the democrats
of Virginia will exert their best energies in
behalf OF the success oftheir candidates, and
will look to the full delivery Of the vote in
every city and county ofthe Commonwealth.
JOHN S. BARBOUR, Chairman.
Alexandria, Va, Nov. 4, 1887.